From the 36...
My perspectives on the issues impacting Rhode Island and District 36
Welcome to From the 36. It’s a place where I share what’s happening in and around our corner of Rhode Island, from Narragansett to North Kingstown to Block Island.
Sometimes it’s policy, sometimes it’s personal, but it’s always about the people and issues that shape our community.
Check in often to see what’s on my mind, what’s going on in District 36, and how together we can keep turning the tide in the right direction.
A Millionaire's Tax Worked in Massachusetts. Will It Work in Rhode Island?
Massachusetts has generated billions from its millionaire's tax, but Rhode Island's smaller economy, smaller tax base, and growing budget should give us pause.
Before asking taxpayers for more money, we should ask a simpler question:
Are Rhode Islanders getting their money's worth?
Running Against Apathy
Too many Rhode Islanders care deeply about the future of our state but choose to sit on the sidelines.
On top of that, one of the most common things I hear is, "I don't get involved in politics."
Whether we participate or not, decisions are still being made.
The only question is whether we'll have a say in them.
The Hidden Cost of Rhode Island’s Energy Transition
The hidden cost of Rhode Island’s energy transition may not show up in headlines, but it could appear in higher housing costs, utility bills, and fewer affordable options for working families.
Senate Resolution S2354 could make energy transitions more expensive for the very Rhode Islanders already struggling with rising costs.
Memorial Day: More Than a Long Weekend
Memorial Day is more than the unofficial start of summer.
For my family, it is also a time to remember my Uncle Peter, a World War II Army Air Forces gunner whose plane was shot down over North Africa and whose body was never recovered.
His name is memorialized alongside 3,724 missing Americans on the Wall of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial.
This Memorial Day, we remember him, and all those who gave everything for our country.
Rhode Island’s $233 Million Jackpot
Rhode Island’s budget just hit a “jackpot.”
The state suddenly has an extra $233 million to work with, but where did the money actually come from?
A closer look at the numbers reveals a more complicated story about capital gains, inflation, affordability, and whether this revenue surge is temporary or sustainable.
The Cost of Rhode Island’s Sludge Problem Is Already Rising
New bills in the Senate aim to stop the proposed sludge plant in North Kingstown and study the issue further.
Meanwhile, costs are already rising in communities like West Warwick and Bristol.
Delays have real consequences, and we break it down inside.
Why You're Losing Your Doctor
Concierge medicine is growing across the country, but in Rhode Island, it’s exposing a deeper problem.
As doctors reduce patient loads and shift to membership-based care, access is shrinking for those who can’t afford it.
The question isn’t whether this trend will continue.
It’s whether we address what’s driving it.
When Affordable Housing Meets Climate Goals
As Rhode Island pushes toward climate goals, the ripple effects are showing up in an unexpected place: housing costs.
New EV-related safety requirements are increasing construction costs, even for families unlikely to benefit from them today.
Employment Numbers Are Moving in the Wrong Direction
Rhode Island lost 1,000 jobs in February.
Unemployment ticked up to 4.6%, and over the past year, there are fewer Rhode Islanders working today than there were a year ago.
These aren’t isolated data points. They’re signals.
Earth Day Reality Check
Rhode Island has some of the most ambitious climate goals in the country, but the state admits we’re not on track to meet them, even as energy costs keep rising.
At the same time, real environmental impact is happening in places people aren’t talking about by private entities.
This Earth Day, it’s worth taking a closer look at what’s actually working.
A Plan to Help Small Businesses… That Doesn’t
A new proposal aims to help small businesses by encouraging local investment.
It sounds like a win, but a closer look reveals a program that may be too narrow, too complex, and too limited to make a real impact.
The rules, restrictions, and real-world costs raise a bigger question: who does this actually help?
Something Still Smells in Quonset
Elected officials are lining up to oppose the sludge plant in Quonset, but where’s the alternative?
If we’re serious about solving the problem, we can’t stop at “no.”
We need to ask the harder question: what’s the plan?
Who’s Checking the Bill?
Before you pay a restaurant bill, you take a look to make sure everything adds up.
Similarly, Rhode Island spends billions each year on healthcare and social services.
When it comes to billions in taxpayer dollars, we need to ask: Who’s checking the bill?
What Real Housewives Gets Right About Rhode Island
Reality TV shows one version of Rhode Island. Most people are living another.
That gap between perception and reality is real, and it’s getting wider.
For many people, it’s getting harder to live and work here every day.
Something Smells in Quonset And It’s Not Just the Sludge
The sludge project in Quonset was approved in 2024 and is only now becoming a public issue.
That raises a bigger question.
How did something like this move forward without people knowing about it sooner?
Others Before Self
In a world that often rewards attention and self-interest, it’s worth asking: what does selfless service look like today?
On National Medal of Honor Day, we’re reminded that real leadership isn’t about recognition. it’s about duty before self.
It’s a standard worth carrying into our own communities.
Are We Building a Car Factory Because We Need a New Car?
Rhode Island is exploring a new medical school at URI to help address the state’s doctor shortage.
It’s an exciting long-term idea, but how do we balance that vision with the healthcare access challenges Rhode Islanders are facing today?
When Did “Normal” Become the Exception?
A quick comment at the gym stopped me in my tracks: “You come across as normal.”
When did being normal become unusual in politics?
Maybe Rhode Island needs less political theater and more common sense.
It Takes Money to Make Change
One of the things that doesn’t come naturally to me in this campaign is asking people for money.
Ironically, someone said something to me at a recent event that stopped me in my tracks:
“It takes money to make change.”
Continue reading for a few reflections on the campaign so far and why the conversations happening across District 36 matter more than ever.
Rhode Island Wants to Pay Workers to Stay… So Why Are They Leaving?
A new proposal would help certain workers repay student loans if they stay in high-need professions.
While well-intentioned, programs like this may address the symptoms of Rhode Island’s workforce shortage rather than the underlying causes driving young professionals to leave the state.
Let’s not only look at what this policy is meant to do, let’s also look at what it doesn’t do.
“an education in knowledge pays the best interest.”
— BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Inventor & Statesman